MP says Odierno’s statements breach of agreement

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A parliamentarian from the Iraqi National List (INL) on Sunday described top U.S. commander Raymond Odierno’s statements about the presence of non-combat troops in Iraqi cities after June 2009 as a prelude to “a series of breaches” of the troop withdrawal pact. “The U.S. side will not abide by the published text of the agreement, which has been approved by the Parliament. There will be clear breaches of the agreement…,” MP Osama al-Nejefi told IraqiNews.com. “The first breach was U.S. Commander Raymond Odierno’s statements about the presence of U.S. troops in cities after June 2009…,” Nejefi added. On Saturday, Odierno said that non-combat troops will remain in Iraqi cities to offer assistance to Iraqi forces after June 2009, the date set in the agreement for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from residential areas. On November 27, the Iraqi Parliament approved the security pact with the United States, also known as the Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA), with a majority of 149 votes to 35. SS (P)/SR 1